A Critical And Comparative Analysis Of The Manahij Of ‘‘Tafsir Majidi’’ And ‘‘Tafsir Tazkir Ul Quran’’

Abstract

Allah Almighty has revealed some books and scriptures for the guidance of humanity, among which the Holy Quran is the final, complete, and eternal source of guidance. It serves as a beacon of light and a source of all knowledge. The solutions to all issues until the Day of Judgment and the keys to success in both this world and the hereafter are concealed within it. It's a remarkable fact that obedience and adherence to the Quran are only possible after understanding and contemplating its contents. Therefore, Allah has invited people to ponder and reflect upon it, and this process is called "Tafsir," which linguistically means to uncover and express. In technical terms, Tafsir is a field of knowledge that helps us to understand the meanings and purposes of the Noble Quran. It involves discussions about its commandments, issues, mysteries, and rulings. Those who specialized in this field are referred to as "Mufassirin" or scholars of Tafsir. The inception of this knowledge dates back to the advent of Islam. The Prophet Muhammadﷺ, being the first and foremost interpreter, received divine guidance directly through revelation. Despite being proficient in the Arabic language, the companions of the Prophetﷺ would approach him to seek clarification on verses that seemed ambiguous, and he would provide explanations. Later, during the era of the companions, Ten individuals, including Abdullah ibn Abbas, Ubayy ibn Ka'b, and Abdullah ibn Mas'ood, gained expertise in the art of interpretation. They established schools of Tafsir, and their disciples rendered valuable services to this field. They organized its principles, preserved interpretive traditions, and categorized tafsir into two forms: Tafsir bil-Ma'thur (interpretation based on transmitted reports) and Tafsir bil-Ra'yi (interpretation based on personal judgment). During the Umayyad and early Abbasid periods, the science of Tafsir flourished. Permanent commentaries emerged, much like other regions such as the Indian subcontinent and the Levant, where numerous scholars authored extensive Tafasir. Among these, Allama Abdul Majid Daryabadi's "Tafsir Majidi" and Maulana Wahid ud din Khan's "Tazkir al-Quran" hold great significance. These two Tafasir differ in their methodologies (Manahij) and have both shared and distinct characteristics. In this research article, a critical and comparative analysis of the methodologies (Manahij) of these two Tafasir has been taken. It is hoped that this scholarly effort will contribute to Islamic research and prove beneficial for both the general audience and scholars.